Brought to my attention by Avatar crew member David Stripinis, this is a great 27 minute interview with director James Cameron, where he discusses many things, chiefly, in my memory at least, developing the camera technology used in the film and the years of R&D that went into producing both Avatar and his future film Battle Angel.
photo credit: (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / November 15, 2009)
Pre-Script: If the above photo of Rich Ross is not the quintessential combination of the words “Disney” and “Executive”, I don’t know what is.
So after studio head Dick Cook was suddenly fired a couple of months ago, I was was unclear about what was going to happen over at Walt Disney Pictures. The LATimes published a “first 50 days in office” sort of update the other day, and, to be totally honest, I’m almost less clear than before.
I want to like Rich Ross, Cook’s Disney replacement. As the article says,
Ross attacked the industry custom of spending $40 million on a TV advertising blitz two weeks before a film’s opening, rather than enlisting more targeted campaigns that harness social networks and the broader Web. And he’s raised again the touchy subject advanced by Iger that consumers are demanding that movies become available for home viewing sooner after release in theaters than has traditionally been the case.
As a consumer, content producer, and fan of The Walt Disney Company overall, that’s great. Home viewing earlier, blog sponsorships more frequent. He values brand. Disney always has, nothing to worry about. But then Joe Roth, former Disney head and producer on their upcoming ‘Alice in Wonderland’, brought up something worrisome:
“It’s brand over everything else,” said Roth, referring to movies that come with built-in, pre-sold concepts, such as sequels. It’s a strategy, he notes, that although designed to reduce risk is not without a downside. “What may get lost in the shuffle are non-branded original ideas that have no pre-awareness.”
Sorry, i’m goin to say that again.
“What may get lost in the shuffle are non-branded original ideas that have no pre-awareness.”
- the potential future of a company that has brought in over $680 million dollars and counting in the theatrical release of UP alone.
Look. Part of me has always wanted to work for Disney. Another part of me wants to create the next Disney. So I’m not sure what to think of the above, other than if Joe Roth (again, currently producing a non-original property) is right, moviegoing in terms of Disney is going to start sucking. And profits, Richie, will not suddenly start appearing.
Alas, there is some fresh air in the works. The Princess and the Frog is coming (based on a book but heavily changed), as is The Bear and the Bow, Newt, and more, and with them originality might be able to stay alive at Walt Disney for a little bit longer. I have high hopes that a successful venture into the digital world may open up an opportunity for the rebirth of labels like Miramax, but there may not be any reason to if rehashed properties start picking up.
Save us John Lasseter, you’re our only hope.
(article found via Tumblr’s ryking, quotes from an LA Times article by Claudia Eller and Dawn Chmielewski)
